STEPHENSON HARWOOD

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Awards

Alain Gautron
Partner

Contact details

Alain is a highly established figure in France's banking and finance sector, with vast experience working on asset finance matters. Ranked as the number one ship finance lawyer in France by the leading legal directories, he also works on all aspects relating to the transportation industry.

He has extensive experience advising banks and other financing institutions, leasing companies, sponsors and operators.

A significant part of Alain’s practice involves the structuring of complex tax-based leasing structures. Together with Stéphane Salou, he has spearheaded the development of these types of products in the French legal market.

In addition to his banking and finance expertise, Alain covers all aspects of the transportation industry including regulatory, acquisitions and restructurings.

Alain is lauded by clients for being "very business-oriented, trying to find solutions when problems occur." Chambers Global 2015.

Alain speaks English and French and is a member of the Paris, New York and Manitoba (Canada) bars.

"Sets the standard for French law transactions in the maritime sector."
Chambers UK 2015

Finance

Project finance

Ship and offshore finance

Banking and financial services regulation

Finance

US equipment manufacturer

Advised on the French law aspects of a European multi-national leasing programme set up by US company. This matter covered various structural, finance and regulatory aspects under French law.

French transportation company

Advised on the tax efficient financing of a corporate jet for the use by company executives.

French telecommunications company

Advised the holding company with respect to the financial and corporate reorganisation of the group and the resulting repackaging and re-financing of the assets.

European bank pool

Ship and offshore finance

French cruise operator

Advised the cruise operator on the financing of two new vessels and 2 second hand vessels by way of French tax lease. The two new vessels benefited from SACE Export Credit based on an innovative financial structure between France and Italy.

French banks

Advised four different groups of banks that were awarded mandates to finance eight handymax size vessels. The four transactions regrouping two vessels each were a mix of instalment pre-construction financing, senior loan facilities, operating leases (then converted into tax leases) and French tax leases.

North European bank

Advised the bank relating to a 6 vessel facility in the midst of a court-lead restructuring. Successfully negotiated the exit of the bank with ownership of the assets.

Banking and financial services regulation

European bank

Advised on bank regulatory issues for a foreign bank established in France, including providing advice on issues concerning the Bank of France, banking regulations relating to changes in corporate governance and capital risk requirement calculations.

Asian bank

Advised on European passporting issues into France with respect to a non-French banking entity wishing to enter into French regulated banking activities.

Financing subsidiary

Advised on French banking licencing regulations. Alain also assisted with the licence application for a US subsidiary wishing to establish a finance subsidiary in France to support their equipment sales program.

French cooperative bank

Advised a group of French banks in connection with the financing of port equipment and cranes secured by a series of public concession agreements and equipment pledges.

German/French bank pool

Advised the bank pool in connection with the financing of rolling stock to be used in Germany by a French rail operator.

European bank pool

Advised the banks on the securitisation of medium-term commercial contracts receivables in the shipbuilding industry.

Banks and banking

European bank

Advised on bank regulatory issues for a foreign bank established in France, including providing advice on issues concerning the Bank of France, banking regulations relating to changes in corporate governance and capital risk requirement calculations.

Asian bank

Advised on European passporting issues into France with respect to a non-French banking entity wishing to enter into French regulated banking activities.

Financing subsidiary

Advised on French banking licencing regulations. Alain also assisted with the licence application for a US subsidiary wishing to establish a finance subsidiary in France to support their equipment sales program.

French cooperative bank

Advised a group of French banks in connection with the financing of port equipment and cranes secured by a series of public concession agreements and equipment pledges.

German/French bank pool

Advised the bank pool in connection with the financing of rolling stock to be used in Germany by a French rail operator.

European bank pool

Advised the banks on the securitisation of medium-term commercial contracts receivables in the shipbuilding industry.

Shipping

French cruise operator

Advised the cruise operator on the financing of two new vessels and 2 second hand vessels by way of French tax lease. The two new vessels benefited from SACE Export Credit based on an innovative financial structure between France and Italy.

French banks

Advised four different groups of banks that were awarded mandates to finance eight handymax size vessels. The four transactions regrouping two vessels each were a mix of instalment pre-construction financing, senior loan facilities, operating leases (then converted into tax leases) and French tax leases.

North European bank

Advised the bank relating to a 6 vessel facility in the midst of a court-lead restructuring. Successfully negotiated the exit of the bank with ownership of the assets.